by LJ Vickery
Absu matched her grin and reached around the altar. “Aha! Ceremonial loincloth.” He swept the jeweled garb aloft. “After the first of my brothers and his Chosen experienced the orgasmic consequences of not being sedated, we’ve come prepared.”
Charlie smirked at the word come. “Here, let me.” She took the piece of clothing from him, and knelt at his feet, kissing his lovely shaft tenderly, before wrapping him in the jewel encrusted covering.
“I could get used to this.” Absu smirked. “It may have to be part of our daily regimen.” He snapped his fingers. “Now, off your knees before I get started again.” He took her hand and drew her up. Charlie pouted, but they had a party to attend.
They rode the elevator up, unable to keep their hands from each other. But by the time they’d left its confines and traversed the large foyer, they had themselves somewhat under control.
Absu was mobbed by his fellow gods the minute they emerged into the huge ballroom. They clapped him on the back and made lewd comments about the size of his cock, and his utter lack of control, coming so fast. Charlie took that as her cue to leave. They needed to pound on each other and act like cavemen. It was not without appeal, but better witnessed from a safe distance. Her eyes, of necessity, sought out Ish-Din.
The goddess of the dawn was nibbling a martini olive off a pick when Charlie sidled up beside her. “So, did you find out anything?” Charlie asked, her pulse increasing with the possibilities.
Ish-Din set her gin-filled glass down and patted Charlie’s hand. “You are going to like my news.” She looked around, lowered her voice, and filled Charlie in on all she’d discovered.
****
Food was consumed in great quantity over the next few hours, but Charlie’s stomach wouldn’t hold much. She had been trying for quite some time to ease out of one conversation or another to make her way back to Absu’s side. But when she wiggled her way free, he could not. Her frustration increased with the time that ticked by. She needed to tell him what Ish-Din had said, but his buddies seemed to have different ideas as they continued to tease and ply him with shots of tequila.
Finally, she’d had enough. Charlie wasn’t overly bold, but she’d explode if she didn’t get Absu to herself soon. She sucked up her courage and approached where he and Anshar were conferring about…hooks? Had she really heard that? Her pussy fluttered.
They broke off when she approached.
“My sweet Chosen.” Absu raised her hand to his lips as she stepped close. “I’ve barely seen you in the past hours.” He didn’t seem too upset about it. After all, they were mated for eternity, so maybe he figured what was a paltry few sweeps of the clock’s hands? Still, she had things of utmost importance to impart, and no way was she waiting a minute longer.
“I have a special wedding present for you.” She flashed him the most brilliant smile, to which Anshar growled and hooted.
“I’ll just bet you do.” The god of the sky grinned. “And Absu’s got one for you.”
Oddly, Absu turned and put a finger to his lips, shushing the other god.
“Let me be off with my Chosen,” he grumbled. “Go ply some other willing victim with liquor.”
“Hmm…Can’t be my pregnant wife, but she doesn’t need it to fulfill my fantasies.” Anshar stumbled away looking for Lenore. Like all the gods, he wasn’t particularly susceptible to the effects of alcohol, but could become tipsy when and if he wanted. Clearly, right now, Anshar wanted.
“So what is it…wife?” Absu found himself repeating Anshar’s endearment, and seemed to like how it sounded on his tongue. Charlie knew she did.
“We need to meet Ishtar-Dinatu in the solarium,” she told him. “The goddess of the dawn helped with my present.”
Absu’s brows raised. “If the gift is something sexual, Ish-Din’s war god isn’t going to like it,” he warned, spotting Erra across the room where he talked to Tess.
“Oh, he’s aware of your present. He even helped. We have his complete blessing.”
****
Gods. Absu felt sweat instantly bead up on his neck. He knew his little Charlie was into some serious kink, but a foursome with the goddess of the dawn and big bad Erra? Not on his wish list. He didn’t want to see war’s big, ugly ass. How could he let Charlie down without seeming the wimp? He’d already disappointed her sexually so many times. He swallowed his trepidation and let himself be drawn into the sunroom off the grand chamber. The shadow of Ish-Din stood within.
“Good, you’ve corralled him.” The goddess applauded. “How do you want me to start?”
Okay. So Erra didn’t follow. Absu’s heart pounded. A threesome? With the lovely Ish-Din? With Erra’s blessing? It was a fantasy he’d never imagined, and even though not on the top of his wish list, he couldn’t help but picture two blonde heads poised over his cock. His penis rose quickly in anticipation of what he could order the pair to do.
Charlie took his hand, startling him out of his fantasy. “Why don’t you start by telling him about your meeting with Desdora.”
Aaand, shit. Prick down. If there was ever a cockblock, it was the utterance of his stepmother’s name. Apparently, he’d read this situation totally wrong. And with the deflated sexual mood, his anger ramped up exponentially. Charlie had clearly gone against his will and confided his past to the goddess of the dawn. He was not pleased.
When he couldn’t keep a low growl from escaping his lips, Charlie looked at him in a semi-panic and urged Ish-Din to begin. “Can you tell it quickly?” she asked.
Ish-Din, completely uncowed by his bearish behavior, simply scowled at him. “Why don’t we all sit down and I’ll be happy to begin.”
Absu reluctantly took a seat next to Charlie and across from the other goddess. He refused to look at either woman, instead focusing on a plant by the window and trying to keep his fury at bay.
“Absu. Stop glowering,” Ish-Din ordered, and he tipped his head up to her, attempting to comply while she continued.
“When Charlie and Enten came to me, explaining about your past, both issued the same certainty that you had to be innocent of your crimes. So I took it upon myself, with the help of several people, to research your supposed misdeeds.”
Great, Absu huffed. Now, not just Ish-Din and her husband had been apprised of his dirty laundry, they had involved others as well. The dawn goddess continued, ignoring his sound of disgust.
“My sister, the queen, employed the help of her new secretary and looked into your Underworld records. It seems that you were never given a trial or an opportunity to bring forth witnesses on your behalf.”
Absu knew this and nodded. He’d testified to his guilt in front of his father, a member of the tribunal. He’d forfeited his rights to trial.
“What you didn’t know is that Nergal would not have allowed your incarceration without some solid proof of guilt.”
Absu held back a snort. The proof the king had been given on several of the gods in the next room had subsequently proven false. So what good would it have done?
“Anyway, looking at your file, Stave determined that your papers were rubber-stamped by none other than Beletseri.”
At his look of shock, she continued, “Someone bribed her to put you away,” she informed him, “and that’s when I dug deeper.”
Ish-Din stared fully into Absu’s eyes, which had to have shown his shock and confusion.
“I invited your father and stepmother to dinner last night, and since Erra and I are both overgods, they were wildly flattered and accepted our request.” The goddess then qualified something to Absu. “I’ve never liked your stepmother, and last night was no exception. She is so distasteful to be around, I couldn’t even wait until the end of the bouillabaisse course before questioning her outright.”
The goddess had Absu’s full attention now.
“As you know, I can discern truth from lies by the cadence of people’s voices. I asked her if she believed you had killed all the people in that village.”
; Absu unknowingly held his breath.
“She said she did. And she was lying.” The words hung heavily in the air while Ish-Din went on. “My next question was brutally direct. I asked if she had arranged for the people in that village to be killed and the carnage made to look like you had done it.” She watched Absu’s face. “She denied it was so. But again, she was not telling the truth.”
Absu lowered his head to his hands. His brain caught up with what the goddess revealed; his body not far behind. His shoulders shook, and great wrenching sobs rose up to emerge from deep within his gut.
Charlie, at his side and clearly stricken with grief as well, surrounded him as best she could with her arms, smoothing her hands over his head and down his back, attempting to comfort him.
Eventually, his breathing steadied and he raised tear-drenched eyes to Ish-Din. He reached for Charlie’s hand. “What did you do next?” His voice came out tremulous, but hopeful.
“I gave a small nod of my head to Erra, who quickly took both of your parents into custody. They were interrogated by your father’s peers, and we got to the bottom of the whole crime. It seems that Desdora had paid a couple of mercenaries to do the killing by donning the claws of a local Asian black bear to make the slaughter appear as if you were responsible.”
“But how?” Absu sent his mind tumbling backward. “Nobody but Enten knew of my alter ego. How could she…”
“She’d been having you watched,” Ish-Din supplied. “Even though you had been placed in the monastery for education, she was still furious you were allowed home for holidays and vacations. She understood there would come a day when you would be welcomed home by your father to be groomed to take over his position. She needed to get rid of you permanently.”
Absu swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. “And my father?” He grimaced. He had long held his father in great esteem, even attempting to emulate his father’s proper language and demeanor for many, many years. He steeled himself for the goddess’s words.
“Your father is innocent. He didn’t know what Desdora’s evil had wrought.”
Absu’s shoulders fell, and he let out a held breath.
“All those years ago, he truly believed you were responsible for the carnage, and he went along with his wife when she pressed for no investigation. He thought it would go easier on you. That you’d get eternal imprisonment, but not a death sentence, which he could not abide.
“Together they bribed the tribunal into handing you over to Beletseri, whom the council had used on previous occasions for distasteful tasks. The whole unpleasant business was over rapidly, without a lot of publicity or fanfare.”
So his father had at least advocated for him in a small way.
“The amount of guilt your father and his constituents face will be determined by an independent board. Desdora will go to trial and be given a harsh sentence.”
Absu straightened, and he knew what Ish-Din and Charlie would see. The haunted look that had always been in his eyes? He felt it suddenly disappear, and when he spoke, it was with a quiet confidence he couldn’t remember feeling before. “I will want to attend the trial,” he told Ish-Din. “And I would eventually speak with my father.” He hadn’t seen the man in thousands of years. How would that reunion go?
He tilted his head, remembering something else. “And what of my stepbrothers?” he asked.
“Nice gods, both of them,” Ish-Din assured him. “They figured out their mother a long time ago, and have had little or nothing to do with her for years. They’re both mated with families. I’m sure, now that things have been cleared up, you can meet with them if you so wish.” It was left unsaid how his half-siblings would feel about his involvement with their mother’s incarceration, but Absu could deal with that.
Charlie turned to touch his shoulder, looking uncertain. “Are you angry with me for sharing?” she asked.
Absu hid a relieved grin. “I’m a little disturbed that you would do all this behind my back. But angry?” He took her chin in his fingers. “You’ve taken a weight from me that I have carried nearly all of my life. It took your love to open the doors to my freedom, and I will be eternally grateful.” He remembered the goddess of the dawn still sitting opposite them. “And you as well,” he added. “I will never be able to repay my debt to you for your involvement.”
“Damn straight,” came a voice from the doorway. Erra stood with arms crossed over his massive chest. “Just remember that you owe my woman.” Erra grinned. “Maybe a cub from your first litter,” he teased.
Absu growled.
“Kidding.” The war god held up a hand. “I hope we’ll have little warriors of our own by the time you spawn.” His eyes lit up with a burning desire. “Speaking of which, I’ve been hot since the mating ceremony, my love. It’s time we seek our chamber.” His voice held a thick promise, and Ish-Din rose with a pretty color bathing her cheeks.
“If you need to ask any more questions, we’re staying in one of the guest suites. You can catch up with me tomorrow.” She walked toward her mate.
“Thank you, goddess.” Absu bowed his head. When the couple was out of earshot, he leaned in to his Chosen. “I have a wedding present for you too. Although I believe you have outdone me quite shamefully.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her to her feet. They entered the ballroom, which had been emptying of guests, but Anshar and Lenore were still there to give giggles and winks to him as Absu nearly dragged his Chosen across the room.
“Why the hurry?” Charlie asked him. He knew she practically had to run to stay on her feet.
“I want no one to stop us with more inane chatter. I have far more important things on my mind.” Despite her cajoling, he would say no more. But when he swept her into the elevator, and hit “D” for dungeon, all words ceased spewing from Charlie’s mouth.
“Although you’re not asking, I will now assuage your curiosity. With the help of the Goddess Lenore, I have outfitted one of the downstairs cells. For your pleasure.” Her lips parted and he felt his eyes kindle. “It is my understanding that, from this point on, we are required to have a trigger word and a safe word. The trigger, for when our games begin, will be polar bear,” he said, giving her an evilly impish smile.
“And my safe word will be seal,” she replied cheekily.
He gave a full belly laugh. How appropriate for a hunter and his prey.
“So,” he assessed her greedily from head to toe. “Polar bear.”
****
Charlie’s eyes immediately snapped down in obedience. Every part of her body thrummed at his explicit command.
“Follow me to our wedding night accommodations.” His imperious voice, as the doors slid open, was commanding music to her ears. She fell into step behind Absu, and they walked down the hallway. She nearly passed out as she was led through the first door on the left.
Gone was the little bunkbed, the rust stained commode, and toilet. The barred walls had been made solid with thick, soundproof padding. In the middle of the space, a raised table stood and looked as though it was adjustable by means of a foot peddle on the floor. It was fully outfitted with bondage cuffs, belts, and harnesses, and her mouth went dry at the sight. Any position a Dom might require could be readily accomplished here.
Charlie also was familiar with the spreader bar that leaned up against a wall and the spanking bench used to hold a bent-over position. Several hooks hung from the ceiling. Hence, Absu’s subdued conversation with Anshar. And an astonishing array of lashes, whips, and paddles were all displayed on shelves.
Letting her gaze travel farther around the small room, she spotted a bondage chair. She’d never tried one before and her pussy tingled. It was rigged so that wrists could be secured to the arms of the chair, and ankles would be strapped to the legs, which were placed more than a normal chair’s width apart. The seat of the chair was V-shaped and would support her ass cheeks, while leaving her pussy fully vulnerable to whatever her Dom could have in mind. This one also seemed to have the
raising and lowering capability.
“I see you are interested in the chair.” Absu’s voice sounded thick. “Take off your clothes. We’ll make use of it.”
“Yes, sir,” Charlie’s words sounded strangled.
She was so excited she could hardly stand. She removed her clothes and placed them on the table before slipping forward to perch her ass on the truncated seat of the device of choice for the evening. Absu approached and strapped her in. When he was finished, every part of her body was on display. He strode to a cabinet she hadn’t noticed before.
“Let’s find you some pretty jewelry,” he rasped.
Charlie licked her lips and watched the tent under his loincloth dip and bob. Good. Her Dom was as turned on as she was.
“I think these are pretty.” Absu held up a feathered pair of nipple clamps attached to each other by a beaded chain. “We should try them on.” He moved far too slowly across the room, before reaching forward to pinch one of her already erect nipples, and eased the first piece of jewelry in place. Charlie gasped at the pinch to her tender bud, and wetness pooled in her pussy.
“All right?” he asked. “Remember your safe word?”
Charlie gave a nod of her head, and received a sharp tug on the clamp.
“Words, Charlie,” Absu demanded.
“Yes, sir.” Her voice squeaked.
Far from hurting, the clamp brought an exquisite sting to her nipple that travelled down to her pussy. She couldn’t wait for the other one to be positioned. The bite of the first went straight to her clit.
Absu seemed to have grown in stature, and if she didn’t know and trust him so well, she might have been nervous at the incendiary look in his eye. He drew forth a single claw and ran it slowly over the second peak. The clamp came down, hard, and a gush of pleasure flooded her cunt.
As she controlled the gasp that threatened to escape, Absu stepped on the floor peddle to raise the chair. He looped one finger over the chain connecting her nipples, and as the chair rose, his hand remained stationary, so the tug on her breasts became a superb torture.